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More than 100,000 took to the streets of Minsk, the local television station Strana dlja Zsiznyi (For a livable country) told reporters. They reported that the authorities had detained several journalists during the demonstration. Opposition television data could not be verified from an independent source.
Belarusian security forces, according to Russian news agency TASZSZ virtually closed center, after the opposition announced a protest in the framework of the national ultimatum of the former opposition presidential candidate Sviatlana Cihanousskaya. Authorities also closed the downtown metro stations to prevent protesters from gathering and moving. With the darkening, the authorities also introduced flash grenades for mass dispersal in Minsk. Witnesses said that several people were injured.
The Russian news agency RIA Novostyi, citing the Belarusian Interior Ministry, stated that they are investigating reports that shots were fired during clashes between security and protesters in the capital. There were also movements in other major cities in the country on Sunday. Police authorities confirmed that riot gear had been used against the protesters. In the city of Lida, for example, tear gas was used for mass dispersal. The Belarusian human rights organization Vyasna has so far reported a hundred arrests in the country’s main cities.
Today is a special day
Cihanouszkaja, who fled to Lithuania, voiced live. The opposition leader had previously issued an ultimatum to Lukashenko, threatening the president with a national strike if he did not announce his resignation by October 25, ending police violence against protesters and releasing the regime’s political prisoners. Some opposition has been released, but experts say no further concessions are expected From Lukashenko, who had already predicted that he would ignore the ultimatum.
Therefore, Cihanouszkaja called on everyone to take part in the national strike starting Monday and stay home. “The road will not be easy”, the fight against Lukashenko requires strength and perseverance, he stressed.
Today, the people’s ultimatum expires at 11:59 pm, and if their demands are not met, the Belarusians will go on a national strike.
– stressed in the resolution of the opposition leader. Participants in Sunday’s protests, by the way, chanted “Strike!”
Lukashenko insists that he is refusing to resign, even though large crowds have been demanding his departure every week since the presidential elections in early August. Official results show that he was elected president for the sixth time with 80 percent of the vote, but the opposition said there was fraud.
Cover Image Source: Stringer TASS via Getty Images
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